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23.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
In enumerating the work of the Public Health Inspectors, one is veryconscious
of the amount of vital work which has not been effectively carried
out during the year, due to circumstances beyond their control.
Over the last few years, due to retirement, the number of the older and
more experienced type of Public Health Inspectors has gradually diminished.
Resignations of the younger type of Public Health Inspectors, trained in the
Department, having accepted more lucrative appointments outside the Central
London Area shortly after qualifying, further reduced the Inspectorial staff.
The staff was further depleted by the resignation of the Deputy Chief
Public Health Inspector in November this year who gained a more lucrative
appointment outside Local Government.
These depletions so severely reduced staff, that essential basic routine
inspections of premises, the very foundation of the Public Health Inspector's
work, suffered to such a degree that it was almost impossible to cope with
work other than matters of immediate urgency.
Fortunately no serious Public Health problems presented themselves
during the year, and this may be more by good luck than good management.
Undoubtedly this reflects credit on the occupiers and owners of business and
commercial premises, particularly food premises.
Therefore, in reading this Report one must bear in mind these facts, and
whilst no apology is needed for having to neglect routine work, one must
congratulate the ever changing and depleted staff on the result of the year's
work.
Mechanical Aids increase production.
During the year three portable dictation machines and one office
dictation machine were employed in the Department. The result has been to
literally reduce the amount of clerical work of the Public Health Inspectors
to almost nil, for all outside surveys, all letters, memoranda, Notices,
daily diaries etc., are now dictated directly on to tape.
By employing these mechanical aids and reducing the Public Health
Inspectors' paper work to a minimum, at least fifty per cent more of their
time is spent on technical surveys and their specialised technical knowledge
is employed to capacity.
This greater output of work by the Public Health Inspectors has
naturally increased the amount of work of the clerical staff. And, it may
be, that as this work increases, which undoubtedly it will, the clerical
staff must be augmented.